All jewelry has been enlarged to show beauty of detail. Gemstones may have been treated or enhanced by heating or irradiation and require special care in jewelry repair or cleaning.

Pearl

For centuries, pearls have been used as an adornment. They were one of the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire. Later, in Tudor England, the 1500s were known as the pearl age. Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900s, the first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920s, cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.

The surface of a pearl can chip and scratch away rather easily, and the luster of pearls can quickly be dulled by solvents, household cleaners, alcohol, cosmetics, and chlorine. To maintain your pearls beauty, bring them in to your local Helzberg Diamonds store for a complimentary cleaning and inspection. You can also care for your pearls at home by wiping them with a soft cloth before putting them away, and storing them separately from other jewelry to avoid scraping away the tender outer coating. If you're careful, you can preserve a pearl's beauty for ages.